Gun-control advocates in the US have set up a new group designed to counter the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The woman behind it is Gabby Giffords, the former congresswoman from Arizona who was shot and wounded in Tucson two years ago.

Ms Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, have decided to take on the powerful gun lobby.

They say it was a meeting last week with the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook primary school massacre that prompted them to take action.

"It brought back a lot of memories about what that was like for us some two years ago today, and you hope this sort of thing doesn't happen again - but you know what, it does happen again," Mr Kelly said.

"I have a gun. Gabby and I are both gun owners. We are strong supporters of the second amendment but we've got to do something to keep the guns from getting into the wrong hands."

The couple have launched the action group Americans for Responsible Solutions and called for donations.

A new coalition of gun rights and conservative groups is urging people to show support for the right to carry firearms by turning out in big numbers at gun stores and firing ranges just two days before Barack Obama's second presidential inauguration.